Rita Mary Nicholas

Rita Schultz Nicholas July 5, 1940 - December 9, 2018 Rita Mary Nicholas, 78, wife, mother and grandmother, died on Sunday December 9, 2018. She was a 1958 graduate of Notre Dame Academy and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication in 1980 at the University of Wisconsin, Parkside. In high school and beyond (CYO) she performed in plays and musicals with leading roles in “The Boy Friend” and “Hit the Deck“. Rita married her high school sweetheart Richard on August 4th, 1962 (it took her six years to say yes). As a Free-Lance writer she edited a book on economics, later she worked for several years as a Real-Estate agent concluding her career as a leasing agent. After 43 years spent in six different states she and her husband retired back to Toledo in 2006. Throughout her adult life Rita was active in her church volunteering on numerous social action committees and assisting the poor in her community. Her most recent involvement was with the St. Vincent DePaul group and a member of the Daughters of Mary at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Toledo. Rita also volunteered as a mentor for NAMI. Thank you Dr. Robert Rudolph for leading the Monday night support group. In 2006, Rita received a kidney from the University of Toledo Medical Center Kidney Transplant Team. Thank You Dr. Michael Rees and his associates. Rita’s passion in retirement included travel and painting. She had special fondness for her trips to Ireland and Switzerland. She has left her family with many treasured paintings. Thank you Bob Schira at “For The Love of Art” for being her teacher and friend for the last 12 years. Rita is survived by her loving husband Richard, son Karl (wife Karen) daughter Katherine, and Grandson William. Rita and her cousin Judy Carroll were especially close. Relatives include: Robert (Jan) Nicholas, Ron (Joyce) Nicholas, Mary Nicholas, Pat (Mike) Todak and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Karl F. Schultz and Helen I. Schultz. Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., on Friday, December 14th from 2-8 p.m. where a Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. The Funeral will begin at Coyle at 11:30, followed by the Funeral Mass on Saturday December 15th at noon, at Our Lady of Lourdes. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery following the mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials may take the form of contributions to the Saint Vincent DePaul Society at Our Lady of Lourdes parish. Please view Rita’s memorial video and sign our online “guest registry” at CoyleFuneralHome.com